Criminal Law Articles

• How a Criminal is Sentenced for a Crime
  The final phase of a criminal case, absent an appeal, is sentencing.  It is during the sentencing phase that the judge decides what a convicted criminal’s … More
• What Comes Next After the Arrest?
  Have you been arrested for a crime or are you a suspect in a crime?  The criminal justice process varies from state to state, and the federal criminal justice … More
• Infraction, Misdemeanor or Felony: What is the Difference?
  Criminal charges and wrongs are typically classified as infractions, misdemeanors or felonies depending on the severity of the wrong.  The more serious … More
• When is a Search Warrant Necessary?
  The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects Americans from unreasonable searches by the government.  That means that absent an emergency … More
• The Pros and Cons of Plea Bargaining
  When faced with criminal charges, a defendant often has one simple goal.  That is, to minimize the potential penalty.  Of course, being found innocent at … More
• What Happens When You Face Out of State Criminal Charges?
  Any kind of criminal charge can be difficult for the accused to manage.  However, if a person is arrested and charged with a crime in a state that is not his or … More
• What are sex offender registry laws?
  The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) is a federal law that sets out the minimum standards for sex offender registration and … More
• The Search of Cars at the Time of Arrest
  Things happen quickly when the police make an arrest. Often, the person being arrested doesn’t have time to think about what his or her rights might be … More
• Miranda Rights: The Who, What, Where, When and Why
  “You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law….” And, so begins many police dramas … More
• Double Jeopardy
  The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, in part, that, “…nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in … More